Reflexology Research & Science
Does reflexology work? The honest answer from 808 peer-reviewed studies: the evidence is mixed and mostly early-stage. 245 are randomized controlled trials and 221 are systematic reviews or meta-analyses. The strongest signals are for relaxation, anxiety, and pain, not for curing disease. Every study is below, graded by evidence strength and pulled from PubMed.
808 studies · page 41 of 68
[Influence of reflex zone therapy of the feet on intestinal blood flow measured by color Doppler sonography]
An influence on organ-associated blood flow is considered as a possible mechanism of action of reflex zone massage of the feet (FRZM) therapy. In the present study we investigated whether changes in intestinal blood flow can be achieved by FRZM. 32 healthy adults (19 women and 13 men) were randomly assigned to the treatment or the placebo group. Subjects of the treatment group received foot massage on the zones assigned to the intestines and those of the placebo group received massage on zones unrelated to the intestines. Before, during and after FRZM, the blood flow velocity, the peak systolic and the end diastolic velocities in the superior mesenteric artery as well as the resistive index as a parameter of vascular resistance were calculated. During FRZM, in the subjects of the treatment group there was a significant reduction in the resistive index (p = 0.021), suggesting an increase in the blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery and the subordinate vascular system. In contrast, there were no significant changes in the resistive index in the subjects of the placebo group. The reduction in the resistive index observed in the treatment group supports the assumption that FRZM improves blood flow in the organs considered to be associated with the specific foot zones, at least during the therapy process.
moderate evidenceEvaluating a complementary therapies clinic: outcomes and relationships
There are few published examples of research examining the effect of massage, aromatherapy, and reflexology in clinic settings. In addition to measuring treatment outcomes, it may also be important to measure the quality of the relationship between the client and therapist and assess its contribution to outcomes. To evaluate perceived changes in client quality of life following treatment; to determine whether the relationship between the client and therapist predicts the outcome of treatment; to assess the usefulness of the measures used. The Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP2) and the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) were used to collect data from 66 clients and 13 therapists in a complementary therapies clinic in South Wales. The MYMOP2 data showed significant improvements for client symptoms and activity but not for well-being. A low correlation was found between MYMOP2 profile scores and WAI scores suggesting that symptoms, activity and well-being were associated with a positive working alliance but this narrowly failed to achieve statistical significance. Further research is necessary to confirm improvements in client quality of life and to establish causes. More research is needed to examine the client-therapist relationship and treatment outcome.
limited evidence
Q2 JournalPsychomotor approach in children affected by nonretentive fecal soiling (FNRFS): a new rehabilitative purpose
According to the Rome III criteria, encopresis without constipation was defined as nonretentive fecal soiling (FNRFS) with not yet well understood etiology. Treatment approaches reported in the literature with varying results include biofeedback, hypnosis, reflexology, and Internet-based educational programs. In developmental age, another behavioral treatment could be identified in the psychomotor approach, which is called psychomotricity in the European countries, or is also known as play therapy. The aim of the present study was to verify the safety and efficacy of play therapy plus toilet training in a small sample of prepubertal children affected by FNRFS. Twenty-six patients (group 1; 16 males, mean age of 5.92 ± 0.84 years) underwent a psychomotor approach therapy program in association with toilet training for 6 months, and the other 26 subjects (group 2; 17 males, mean age of 5.76 ± 0.69) underwent the sole toilet training program for 6 months. During the observational time period (T0) and after 6 months (T1) of both treatments, the patients were evaluated for FNRFS frequency and for the behavioral assessment. At T0, the FNRFS mean frequency per month for group 1 was 20.115 episodes/month (standard deviation [SD] ± 3.024) and for group 2 was 20.423 (SD ± 1.879) (P = 0.661). At T1 the mean frequency per month was 6.461 (SD ± 1.333) episodes/month and 12.038 (SD ± 1.341), respectively (P < 0.001). Moreover, the delta percent average of the frequency between T0 and T1 was 67.121 ± 8.527 for group 1 and 40.518 ± 9.259 for group 2 (P < 0.001). At T1, a significant improvement in scores on the behavioral scale was identified. Our preliminary results show the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, and suggest the positive effect of an additional psychomotor approach, as this holds a new and interesting rehabilitative purpose for children in a toilet training program, even if further research is necessary.
Touch-based treatments and infantile colic - Parental perceptions of treatment outcomes related to infants' crying and sleeping
This study aimed to demonstrate whether touch-based treatments decreased crying and improved sleep among infants suffering infantile colic symptoms. Parent-reported outcomes related to infant crying and sleep were analyzed for two touch-based treatment groups (osteopathy and reflexology), and an affective touch group, receiving three treatments sessions each, compared with a conventional care group. A total of 177 infants diagnosed with colic enrolled, of whom 144 infants, 3-10 weeks old, participated in the study. Parents completed questionnaires before treatments, after the first session, one week after the third session, and three weeks following the third, final session. Primary outcomes were daily crying and sleep duration (in hours), reported for both the preceding 24 h and the preceding week. Mixed model regression analysis was used to compare outcome variations across groups. Secondary outcomes included parent-perceived effectiveness of the treatments on infant crying and sleep quality, measured using Likert scales. No statistically significant reductions in crying hours or increases in sleep hours were detected. However, parents perceived osteopathy and reflexology to be effective in reducing crying and improving sleep quality. All treatments were reported as safe, with no serious adverse events noted. The results rely on parental recall, limiting detection of treatment effects. The discrepancy between the non-significant reduction in IC symptoms and the high perceived effectiveness highlights the value of family-centered approaches. Future research should use more precise measures of infant crying and sleep (e.g., diaries, mobile applications, actigraphy) and apply mixed-methods to explore effectiveness. ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN15640779).
Availability of complementary and alternative medicine for people with cancer in the British National Health Service: results of a national survey
This study assessed access to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies for people with cancer within the British National Health Service. CAM units were identified through an internet search in 2009. A total of 142 units, providing 62 different therapies, were identified: 105 (74.0%) England; 23 (16.2%) Scotland; 7 (4.9%) each in Wales and Northern Ireland. Most units provide a small number of therapies (median 4, range 1-20), and focus on complementary, rather than alternative approaches. Counselling is the most widely provided therapy (available at 82.4% of identified units), followed by reflexology (62.0%), aromatherapy (59.1%), reiki (43.0%), massage (42.2%). CAM units per million of the population varied between countries (England: 2.2; Wales: 2.3; Scotland: 4.8; Northern Ireland: 5.0), and within countries. Better publicity for CAM units, greater integration of units in conventional cancer treatment centres may help improve access to CAMs.
The Cavendish Centre for integrated cancer care: assessment of patients' needs and responses
The use of complementary therapies in combination with conventional medicine is increasing. In cancer care, as at the Cavendish Centre for Cancer Care in Sheffield, the range of therapies offered can include aromatherapy, massage, reflexology, shiatsu, acupuncture, homeopathy, counselling, visualization, hypnotherapy, relaxation, healing and art therapy. Before offering any therapy careful assessment of patients' needs is important as patients seeking complementary therapies may present with unrealistic hopes and expectations of benefit. There are wide variations in provision of services offering complementary cancer care throughout the United Kingdom but few offer a comprehensive assessment which is used as a baseline for both planning treatment and evaluating its outcome and which is conducted by a trained and objective practitioner who has no investment in any specific therapy. We describe the model of care developed at the Cavendish Centre with particular emphasis on the assessment process. Our model of assessment provides an opportunity for patients to tell their story, make sense of the illness experience, construct meaning from it and set realistic expectations for the chosen intervention. It also offers patients involvement and choice in decisions about their care. In addition we present evaluative data from a case series of 157 patients, 138 of whom (88%) reported improvement in their main concern on MYMOP (Measure Your Medical Outcome Profile).
The Effect of Reflexology on Chemotherapy-induced Nausea, Vomiting, and Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients
Patients receiving chemotherapy struggle with the side effects of this treatment. These side effects obligate the patients to use not only the pharmacological methods but also non-pharmacological relaxing methods. This study was conducted to determine the effect of reflexology on chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting, and fatigue in breast cancer patients. The study was conducted as a pretest-posttest experimental design. The study was conducted with sixty patients, thirty as the control and thirty as the experimental groups. A sociodemographic form, Rhodes index of nausea, vomiting, and retching (INVR), and Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) were used to collect the data. Analysis of variance, t-test, percentage calculations, and Chi-square methods were used to evaluate the data. The data obtained were assessed using the "Statistical Package for Social Science 21.0" software. It was determined that the difference between the total mean scores of INVR in the experimental and control groups was significant on the onset and first and second measurements, and the difference between total mean scores of development and distress between the groups was statistically significant in the third measurement (P P < 0.05). The present study proved that reflexology decreased the experience, development, distress of nausea, vomiting, and retching as well as fatigue in the experimental group. Hence, the use of reflexology is recommended for chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.
Exploring the body through reflexology: Physical behaviors observed during application
Recent studies on reflexology describe the appearance of different application-associated effects, attributed to a self-regulatory mechanism related to treatment efficacy. On the other hand, sleep is a physiological process of vital importance for health. Its main value lies in restoring the natural balance between neuronal centers. Among its associated behavioral characteristics are spontaneous movements and eye movements. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects that occur during application of reflexology and that are not described in the literature. This is a descriptive observational study with a quantitative methodology. Abivariate anlysis has been conductec through chi-square test or Anova as apropiate. A total of 111 clients of a therapy center in Tarragona have participated in the study. They were assigned into four groups (musculoskeletal, stress, anxiety, mantenance). Reflexology was administered and observered the manifestations that occured during the session. The findings have identified four categories of effects, of which there was no previous reference. These effects can be related to any of the stages of sleep. This study shows that reflexology promotes its application for different effects, such as eye movements and spontaneous movements. These data reveal the need to investigate these effects and their impact on health as well as their possible relationship with sleep.
Ear acupuncture in European traditional medicine
Auricular acupuncture is a diagnostic and treatment system based on normalizing the body's dysfunction through stimulation of definite points on the ear. Rudimentary forms of acupuncture which probably arose during the Stone Age have survived in many parts of the world right down to present day. It was used in the ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece and all the Mediterranean area. It is a microacupuncture technique similar to reflexology, and was first described in France in 1950 by Paul Nogier who is considered the Father of modern ear acupuncture. It was speculated that the technique works because groups of pluripotent cells contain information from the whole organism and create regional organization centers representing different parts of the body. Nevertheless stimulation of a reflex point in the ear seems relieve symptoms of distant pathologies. Modern research is confirming the efficacy of ear acupuncture for analgesia and anxiety related disease, while tobacco dependence and other substance abuse still need confirmation. Actually main methodological problems with auricular acupuncture are that exist too many maps with little agreement regarding point location in the ear, and that the correspondence or reflex systems does not correlated with modern knowledge of anatomy and physiology.
Report on a membership audit of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Reflex Therapy (ACPIRT)
Reflex Therapy (RT), akin to reflexology, is a non-invasive physiotherapy modality approved by the UK Chartered Society of Physiotherapists. One hundred members of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Reflex Therapy (ACPIRT) participated in an audit to establish a baseline of practice. Findings indicate that experienced therapists use RT in conjunction with their professional skills to induce relaxation (95%) and reduce pain (86%) for patients with conditions including whiplash injury and chronic pain. According to 68% of respondents, RT is "very good," "good" or "as good as" orthodox physiotherapy practices. Requiring minimal equipment, RT may be as cost effective as orthodox physiotherapy with regards to duration and frequency of treatment.
Healing crisis in reflexology: becoming worse before becoming better
In the previous study the effects of reflexology on symptoms of fibromyalgia (FM) were investigated. In this paper it will be explored whether healing crisis is experienced after reflexology in the same sample of women. Multiple case study method as developed by Stake was used to investigate the effects of reflexology on six cases of women with FM who were given ten weekly sessions of reflexology. Data were collected with observation, interviews and diary. Within and across case data analysis was employed. Several different symptoms were experienced by all of the women after reflexology sessions, although differently for each of them. The symptoms presented as mixture of pain, fatigue, and flu like along with a variety of some other symptoms. This constellation of symptoms was more in tune with descriptions of the healing crisis phenomenon than with fibromyalgia. It gradually became worse until rather abruptly started to diminish around the seventh and eighth session. For the majority of the women the healing crisis symptoms gradually became worse before they started to decrease. This has similarities with other health professionals' accounts in the literature. Nurses and health professionals need to be aware of healing crisis effects when offering reflexology to patients.
Effects of reflexology on fibromyalgia symptoms: a multiple case study
To explore the effects of reflexology on pain and other symptoms in women with fibromyalgia syndrome [FM]. Multiple case study method as developed by Stake was used to investigate the effects of reflexology on six cases of women with FM which were given ten sessions of weekly reflexology. Data were collected with observation, interviews and diary and then analyzed within cases and across cases. Reflexology affected the symptom of pain in multiple areas such as head, neck and arms. Pain started to isolate and decrease. Reflexology may be helpful to decrease fibromyalgia symptoms. Qualitative research methods and individually tailored interventions are important when researching complementary and alternative therapies.
Does reflexology work? Common questions
Is reflexology scientifically proven?
No. The most careful reviews conclude reflexology isn't a proven treatment for any specific medical condition. What the research more consistently supports is relaxation and short-term relief of anxiety and pain. We track 808 studies here, graded by evidence strength, so you can judge for yourself.
Does reflexology actually work?
It depends what you mean. For curing or treating a disease, the evidence doesn't support it. For helping people relax and feel less anxious or in less pain during a session, a number of small studies are positive, including 245 randomized controlled trials and 221 systematic reviews or meta-analyses in this library.
Is reflexology a pseudoscience?
Reflexology's core idea, that specific points on the feet map to distant organs, isn't backed by anatomy or physiology, and that's why critics call it pseudoscience. The relaxation and comfort people feel during a session are real, though. It's best understood as a complementary relaxation practice, not a medical treatment.
What is reflexology best supported for?
The strongest and most consistent evidence is for relaxation and short-term reduction in anxiety and pain, plus some cancer-care symptoms like nausea and fatigue. Evidence for treating specific diseases is weak. Use the evidence-strength filter to sort studies by how solid they are.
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